Brendan O’Brien, the original voice actor forCrash Bandicoot, has passed away at the age of 60. Players were first introduced tothe iconic Australian marsupialin 1996, when the firstCrash Bandicootgame was released on the PlayStation 1 as a competitor toSuper Mario 64and other platformers of the time.Crash Bandicoot’s colorful worlds, challenging gameplay, andLooney Tunes-style antics were met with widespread praise and commercial success, resulting in a multitude of sequels and spin-offs.
Crash Bandicoot wasn’t much of a talker, but fans will immediately recognize the signature “woah” catchphrase that came with every one of hiszany and bizarre death animations. This line, along with Crash’s various chuckles and sighs, was originally provided by Brendan O’Brien. He also lent his talents to many of Crash’s enemies like Dr. Neo Cortex, Tiny Tiger, and Dr. N. Gin in the first fewCrash Bandicootgames. O’Brien was eventually replaced after 2001’sCrash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, though his audio recordings were used in a trio of handheld spin-offs on the Game Boy Advance and Crash’s surprise cameo inUncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
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Sadly,Crash Bandicootvoice actor Brendan O’Brien passed away on July 17, 2025, with news of his death reaching the masses a few days ago. His obituary can be read on Legacy, and many fans and castmates are sharing their condolences for him and his family and paying homage to his work asCrash Bandicooton social media since hearing of his passing. One such message came from indie game director Tony Grayson, who noted that he and O’Brien had talked about the latter possibly having a role in the upcomingANTONBLAST.
As the gaming world mourns Brendan O’Brien,theCrash Bandicootfranchisethat he lent his considerable talents to has been undergoing a bit of a renaissance of sorts over the past few years. In 2017, Activision and Vicarious Visions releasedCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, an updated remaster of the first three games in the series. This led to the long-awaitedCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timein 2020, followed by a mobile spin-offCrash Bandicoot: On the Runthe following year. Lastly, Crash and his friends are set to return inCrash Team Rumble, a free-to-play online multiplayer game that will launch in June.
This resurgence wouldn’t have been possible without the deep nostalgia many have forthe originalCrash Bandicootgames, and part of that comes from Brendan O’Brien’s memorable performance as the titular Bandicoot himself. O’Brien’s work in these games made a considerable impact on the gaming world, and he will surely be missed by anyone with fond memories of fleeing a rolling boulder asCrash Bandicootduring his early platforming days on the original PlayStation.
